CLAIM: Nigerian Government Plans to End the Visa-on-Arrival Policy
On February 23, 2025 a TikTok user @isa_talker posted a commentary video about a headline he attached to his video,The headline reads: “Nigeria ends visa on arrival policy, says country won’t harbor criminals”.
In the 3 minutes video posted with the caption, “Nigeria government plans to end Visa on arrival #fyp #isatalker #nigeriantiktok🇳🇬 #nigeriagovernment #africa #poltics #news #story,” the user talked about how he feels Nigerian citizens aren’t respected and are often prejudiced against in airports around the world when they travel, He also talked about the police force and said they are not as respected as they should be and also he believes the choice to end visa on arrival is such a good idea by the government.
As of the time this report was published, the post had gained about 4,620 views, over 120 likes, 55 comments, 9 bookmarks and 6 shares. The same claim has been posted multiple times on social media and it was also reported on nes platforms including Premium Times Nigeria and Nigerian Tribune.
VERIFICATION
On February 22, 2025, Premium Times reported the details of the initial comment by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo on visa-on-arrival (VOA). The minister was quoted saying that visa-on-arrival would be canceled and replaced with a landing and exit card, which prospective visitors will pre-fill before coming into and leaving the country.
Tunji-Ojo’s announcement about replacing visa-on-arrival with landing and exit card was also reported by BusinessDay Nigeria, Channels TV, The Punch Nigeria, The Cable Nigeria, Nairametrics, and Vanguard News Nigeria. Recall that the visa-on-arrival policy was unveiled in 2020 as a short-stay visa issued at the point of entry.
On February 24, 2025, The Cable Nigeria reported that the Director General of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council, PEBEC, Zahrah Audu, released a statement stating that the plan to stop the policy has “elicited fears” among foreign investors and that the council would work with the minister to find a solution.
Audu said: “Our primary objective is to strengthen security around the VOA process while maintaining the policy, which has been instrumental in promoting tourism, trade, and investment in Nigeria. We believe that with collaboration and dialogue, we can address the security issues identified and achieve a secured and efficient VOA process that benefits all parties involved.”
Vanguard News Nigeria reported that Tunji-Ojo also spoke with reporters after a closed-door meeting with the PEBEC DG, emphasising that the new system enhances efficiency while maintaining accessibility for travellers. The minister assured that the policy remains intact, with added security measures, including pre-arrival clearance via Interpol and other background-check systems.
“Travellers will still be able to apply online for short-stay visas, with approvals granted within 24 to 48 hours. Once approved, the visa will be sent to the applicant’s email, eliminating the need for a physical sticker upon arrival,” Tunji-Ojo said.
CONCLUSION
The claim that the federal government is putting an end to visa-on-arrival is MISLEADING. While the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tuni-Ojo initially released a statement saying that visa on arrival was to be cancelled, there has since been an update, clarifying that the ongoing plan is to upgrade the VOA scheme to a landing and exit card for foreigners travelling into Nigeria.
